ITcon Vol. 17, pg. 308-318, http://www.itcon.org/2012/20

Intelligent knowledge-based repository to support informed design decision making

published:September 2012
editor(s):Bhzad Sidawi and Neveen Hamza
authors:Bhzad Sidawi, Dr
Associate Professor, College of Architecture and Planning, University of Dammam, KSA
Email: Bsidawi@ud.edu.sa

Neveen Hamza, Dr
Lecturer in Architecture, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University, UK
Email: neveen.hamza@newcastle.ac.uk
summary:Research highlights that architectural design is a social phenomenon that is underpinned bycritical analysis of design precedents and the social interaction between designers including negotiation,collaboration and communication. CAAD systems are continuously developing as essential design tools informulating and developing ideas. Researchers such as (Rosenman, Gero and Oxman 1992) have suggestedsuggest that knowledge based systems can be integrated with CAAD systems to provide design knowledge thatwould enable recalling design precedents that maybe linked to the design constraints. Currently CAADsystems are user centric being focused on architects rather than the end product. The systems provide limitedassistance in the production of innovative design. Furthermore, the attention of the designers of knowledgebased systems is providing a repository rather than a system that is capable to initiate innovation. Most of theCAAD systems have web communication tools that enable designers to communicate their design ideas withcolleagues and partners in business. However, none of these systems have the capability to capture usefulknowledge from the design negotiations. Students of the third to fifth year at College of Architecture, Universityof Dammam were surveyed and interviewed to find out how far design tools, communications and resourceswould impact the production of innovative design projects. The survey results show that knowledge extractedfrom design negotiations would impact the innovative design outcome. It highlights also that present designprecedents are not very helpful and design negotiations between students, tutors and other students are notdocumented thus fully incorporated into the design scheme. The paper argues that the future CAAD systemsshould be capable to recognize innovative design precedents, and incorporate knowledge that is resulted fromdesign negotiations. This would help students to gain a critical mass of knowledge that would underpin informeddesign decisions.
keywords:intelligent CAAD system, BIM, innovation, multi-criteria decision analysis, design precedents, design negotiations
full text: (PDF file, 0.42 MB)
citation:Sidawi B, Hamza N (2012). Intelligent knowledge-based repository to support informed design decision making, ITcon Vol. 17, Special issue CAAD and innovation, pg. 308-318, https://www.itcon.org/2012/20